but others say it is the work of bashar al-assad's regime. most of those killed in and around syria and aleppo, cnn's arwa damon visited aleppo, and found a nation gripped by civil war. >> reporter: to the tune of jingle bell, a chant in aleppo, with original lyrics. hand in hand, we are all hand in hand, they say, until we get rid of assad. the overwhelming crowd here, for democracy, but also some carrying black flags for islamists. let's agree that each has a right to their perspective. a show of unity, but later islamist groups take up their own chant. the people want an islamic state. when we say we want an islamic state, it means that every citizen will have their rights, he says. islam respects the rights of others, but according to their interpretation. one says, i should cover my hair. twenty-five-year-old hussain says he is not worried they will take over the country. syria is beautiful, a nation of many colors, he says, whether they like it or not. what we just witnessed is a microcosm of a larger dynamic in syria, and the country's